'Twas the night before finals,
                 And all through the college,
                 The students were praying
                 For last-minute knowledge.

                 Most were quite sleepy,
                 But none touched their beds,
                 While visions of essays
                 Danced in their heads.

                 Out in the taverns,
                 A few were still drinking,
                 And hoping that liquor
                 Would loosen their thinking.

                 In my own room,
                 I had been pacing,
                 And dreading exams
                 I soon would be facing.

                 My roommate was speechless,
                 His nose in his book,
                 And my comments to him
                 Drew unfriendly looks.

                 I drained all the coffee,
                 And brewed a new pot,
                 No longer caring
                 That my nerves were shot.

                 I stared at my notes,
                 But my thoughts were all muddy;
                 My eyes went ablur,
                 And I just couldn't study.

                 "Some pizza might help,"
                 I said with a shiver,
                 But each place I called
                 Refused to deliver.

                 I'd nearly concluded
                 That life was too cruel,
                 With futures depending
                 On grades earned in school.

                 When all of a sudden
                 Our door opened wide
                 And Patron Saint Put-It-Off
                 Ambled inside.

                 His spirit was careless,
                 His manner was mellow,
                 But summoning effort
                 He started to bellow:

                 "What kind of student
                 Would make such a fuss
                 To toss back at teachers
                 What they toss at us?

                 On Cliff Notes!  On Crib Notes!
                 On Last Year's Exams!
                 On Wingit and Slingit,
                 And Last-Minute Crams!"

                 His message delivered,
                 He vanished from sight,
                 But we heard him laughing
                 Outside in the night:

                 "Your teachers have pegged you,
                 So just do our best...
                 Happy Finals to All,
                 And to All, a good test."